XWord Muggles Forum

I don't know if this was easy or not - clearly it wasn't for everyone. For me, my first idea just worked. I saw the Eight is Enough clue and counted 5 answers with more than 8 letters in typical locations for theme answers. I counted out 8 letters then typed the left over letters in order into word and got TOO MUCH TV - which fit the contest prompt and made sense because Eight is Enough was a TV show.

EDIT: As I mentioned in a previous post this was a tough one for me to nudge without giving the whole thing away - I tried to help several people I think I might have successfully helped one or two but I may have made it worse for others - if you were one of the ones I confused I apologize.

Is TV a word)

TPS wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 12:06 am I don't know if this was easy or not - clearly it wasn't for everyone. For me, my first idea just worked. I saw the Eight is Enough clue and counted 5 answers with more than 8 letters in typical locations for theme answers. I counted out 8 letters then typed the left over letters in order into word and got TOO MUCH TV - which fit the contest prompt and made sense because Eight is Enough was a TV show.

Yes, though first I looked at the eighth letter in the 5 long answers. This was garbage.
Then I looked at what was left after the 8 letters and it spelled out the answer.

The symmetrical Theme Entires were obvious as were the Indicator Clue & Entry at 75A. Only the Theme Entries had more than 8 letters, which further cemented them as the source of the meta answer. My problem was not looking at the TE letters beyond 8 as "extra", rather that there were to be 8 letters in each TE that were "Goldilocks", "just right", or "enough", and these letters would yield the answer. Any reasonable person (& there were so many of you) would tell themselves to look at it in a different way, but I wouldn't allow that.

The puzzle was fine. This solver was not. Afterward, I still didn't like it until someone explained that 8 letters were enough and the rest were "TOO MUCH", as in the meta answer, "TOO MUCH TV." You can lead a horse to water...

[ EDIT: Softie explains my reaction much better than I could ever hope to: ]

Softie wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 12:42 am "Eight is Enough" for what? The first eight letters of the long answers are not enough to spell anything. If eight are enough, when you take away the extra you should be left with something meaningful.

My husband doesn't actually do the puzzles, but he becomes involved when the solution escapes me.

We are sitting here laughing at ourselves for having never figured out to simply look past the first eight letters!

After solving the meta, I wondered why they didn’t just use “Eight is Enough” for the puzzle title instead of putting it in the grid. That title would have similarly indicated to me to use extra letters from the longest answers.

This is the first meta--ever--where I saw the correct mechanism for each step without heading down rabbit holes. BUT..........what was throwing me off was that I couldn't figure out how the name of the puzzle SHOW THEM THE WAY played into anything--answer or mechanism or whatever. Does anyone have an idea about this?

Jace54 wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 12:28 am After solving the meta, I wondered why they didn’t just use “Eight is Enough” for the puzzle title instead of putting it in the grid. That title would have similarly indicated to me to use extra letters from the longest answers.

I had the same thought - I think the title that wasn't super relevant to the solution and threw a lot of solvers. I remember the CITY BLOCKS/MIAMI puzzle everyone though it didn't need the clue - I felt that was about this one - just make the title Eight is Enough with no clue.

LadyBird wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 12:28 am This is the first meta--ever--where I saw the correct mechanism for each step without heading down rabbit holes. BUT..........what was throwing me off was that I couldn't figure out how the name of the puzzle SHOW THEM THE WAY played into anything--answer or mechanism or whatever. Does anyone have an idea about this?

I think it was merely a sorta play on how parents "guide" their children and a play on the fact Stevie Nicks released a song by that name the same day.

I kept trying to come up with "moving back home"

All right, I'll say it: I don't think this was a good puzzle. "Eight is Enough" for what? The first eight letters of the long answers are not enough to spell anything. If eight are enough, when you take away the extra you should be left with something meaningful.

Add in the dubious title and I'm glad I didn't spend too much time on this.

I loved this puzzle. Very elegant and a very clear answer. Well done!

I got the answer by using the extra letters but only after spending time based on the puzzle title trying to make something of all the directions or “ways” in the grid and longer answers: OUT, IN, AT, IN (again) and END. Tried to hook them up with similar references in the rest of the grid but got nowhere (bad pun, sorry). So decided to count the letters and use the extras. Voila.

This meta reminded me of “The Fourth Man.” Does anyone else remember that one?

Many of the comments were similar, too, with people saying “don’t overthink it” or “I can’t believe it took me so long.”

Anyway, I didn’t get that one but I did get this one so I count it as sort of a redemption.

LadyBird wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 12:28 am This is the first meta--ever--where I saw the correct mechanism for each step without heading down rabbit holes. BUT..........what was throwing me off was that I couldn't figure out how the name of the puzzle SHOW THEM THE WAY played into anything--answer or mechanism or whatever. Does anyone have an idea about this?

TV programs are shows?

So close! But I just didn’t see it...

I’ve had very little time for anything between the Jewish holidays and work recently, but I was so psyched to see Wendy got the mug last week!!!

Wow! When I pull a blank, it's a doozy! I'm going to have to think about this one a while to analyze why it stumped me. Totally embarrassing ... .

yourpalsal wrote: ↑Mon Oct 12, 2020 4:04 am So close! But I just didn’t see it...

Ditto. Written down right in front of me but didn't see it. Spent a whole day trying to find "eight" in other languages after seeing "acht" staring me in the face.